New to the forum and the subject of lasers. I am amazed at how much this industry has changed in the last 20 years.
I have a specific need and a couple of questions relating to that need.
I need to IR illuminate an area of approximately 50 feet at a distance of approximately 500 yards. I want something over 900nm. Say 940-980nm.
I would like it illuminated enough to take video using a CCD video camera with some level of detail when shot through a spotting scope. I would like it to be illuminated continuously for maybe a 6 hour period each night.
I have been looking at laser pointers as something to initially test but have these questions:
1. At that distance will a laser pointer that is "focusable" be able to open up the dot to that wide a spread and how does a person know how wide they can make the dot open up on any particular pointer without having to use a camera to test the pointer first?
2. If the "duty cycle" of a pointer won't handle this length of time, then could a person use two pointers and cycle power to one for a few seconds and then to the other, so as to keep the area illuminated?
3. Can anyone suggest a brand model pointer that might work for me?
4. And finally, if I use a (for instance) 250mw laser pointer, will the beam be "eye safe" at that distance and spread or would I need to reduce power even further and/or open the beam up even further. I guess the question really is, how much power would I need to illuminate the area at that distance and would that power level then be "eye safe" at that distance?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ozark Harry
I have a specific need and a couple of questions relating to that need.
I need to IR illuminate an area of approximately 50 feet at a distance of approximately 500 yards. I want something over 900nm. Say 940-980nm.
I would like it illuminated enough to take video using a CCD video camera with some level of detail when shot through a spotting scope. I would like it to be illuminated continuously for maybe a 6 hour period each night.
I have been looking at laser pointers as something to initially test but have these questions:
1. At that distance will a laser pointer that is "focusable" be able to open up the dot to that wide a spread and how does a person know how wide they can make the dot open up on any particular pointer without having to use a camera to test the pointer first?
2. If the "duty cycle" of a pointer won't handle this length of time, then could a person use two pointers and cycle power to one for a few seconds and then to the other, so as to keep the area illuminated?
3. Can anyone suggest a brand model pointer that might work for me?
4. And finally, if I use a (for instance) 250mw laser pointer, will the beam be "eye safe" at that distance and spread or would I need to reduce power even further and/or open the beam up even further. I guess the question really is, how much power would I need to illuminate the area at that distance and would that power level then be "eye safe" at that distance?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Ozark Harry
